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Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Cardas Audio Cardas RCA-C Caps Accessory by tubetunes

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REVIEW: Cardas Audio Cardas RCA-C Caps Accessory

216.69.90.180


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Model: Cardas RCA-C Caps
Category: Accessory
Suggested Retail Price: $29.95 per dozen
Description: RCA caps for covering the empty RCA connectors.
Manufacturer URL: Cardas Audio
Model Picture: View

Review by tubetunes ( A ) on April 16, 2004 at 11:58:01
IP Address: 216.69.90.180
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for the Cardas RCA-C Caps


I order a dozen of these so I could slack off from my RCA cleaning schedule.

Just like my previous order, the package from DIYCABLE arrived in a timely manner, well packed. This time 2 days before what mentioned on UPS website.

From Cardas: "Cardas RCA Caps completely cover the RCA input with a solid shield of nickel and brass to prevent both EMI and RFI from entering the chassis through the RCA dielectric." Having tried a lot of mods/tweaks before but this time I am a skeptic. RFI/EMI, I can't see them but last time I looked into my speakers there was no Diana Krall either.

These caps do not short the inputs, so they should do no harm. You have them covered, should keep the dust out right?

As for the listening test, did it just for the heck of having paid for it. First pair went on another input on my pre-amp.

Back to the couch, hmmm..., may be because my seating position is on a sweeter spot this time. There went another pair on the empty input on my amp. Hey..

Then 4 more pairs for whatever remaining input/output RCA. I found it requires skill level 3 from my standard, with a little sweat. But the installation procedure went smoothly at last. Total time for installation: 20 hours... er... seconds.

With the whole dozen on my system, Norah Jones' lips squeezed a little smaller. Each image positioning formed up little tighter in focus but with better 3-dimentional rendering of the micro details which translate to a better preception of the size of the instruments. This could be from the lower noise floor hence blacker background.

These were by no mean a huge improvement but discernable even after having a number of tweak items installed.For my system, blocking RFI/EMI yielded a sonic benefit, YMMV.

One thing for sure, they do a pretty decent job keeping the dust out from my RCAs.


Product Weakness: Price, goes for other audio accessories too.
Product Strengths: Look and feel, good fitting on RCA, easy to install.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Krell
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Bottlehead Foreplay w/ mods.
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Philips SACD1000, JVC XL-R5000BK
Speakers: Totem, Sound Dynamics
Cables/Interconnects: Audioquest Diamond, Topaz, Cardas Hexlink Golden 5c, MIT, Headroom mini-mini, Monster mini-rca, DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Vocal, Jazz, Blues, Classical, Folk, Pop, Rock, New Age, Oldies
Room Comments/Treatments: Roomtune, Corner tune, Echo tune, Custom furniture positioning.
Time Period/Length of Audition: 8 hours
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): JR DIY Powersource, DIY Power cable based on Belden, Asylum Cable, Chris VenHaus Power cable, Home Brew Ero Cable Type 2
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): iPod 40GB. Headroom Airhead.
Grado SR-60, Sennheiser HD-600




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Topic - REVIEW: Cardas Audio Cardas RCA-C Caps Accessory - tubetunes 11:58:01 04/16/04 ( 3)